Electric-lamp cluster.



11. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC L5H? CLUSTEEV I urmouxon rum: we. 5, 12am.

. I 4 996,963. Patented July 1911.

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'R. B. BENJAMIN. m c'rmc LAMP GLUSTEB. APPLIGLTION FILED AUG. 6, 1908.

Patented July 4, 1911.

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Q 1 2x672 or: $52 t; I -fi UN] TED STATES PATENT REUBEN B. BENJ AMIN, FCHICAGd, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC .MANUFACTURIHG COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

' i ELECTRIC-LAMP CLUSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1908. Serial No. 447,327.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented new and useful Inn proveinents in ElectrieLarnp Clusters,of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification. a

This invention relates 'to electric lamp clusters of that class in whicha plurality of lamp sockets are supported from a central hollow body. Insuch clusters, as heretofore constructed, it has been usual toconnectthe socket to the hollow body by means of intermediateconductor-containing pipes.

One method consisted in securing a pluralit of hollow stems to thehollow body in such manner as to project radially therefrom, the

. other ends of said hollow stems carrying --bet,\veen the hollow bodyand the 7 facture and neat in appearance, while affording facilities forthe ready; insertion and connection of the conductors.

It. is another object of this invention to provide means for securingthe lamp sockets to the hollow body without the necessity of usingintermediate pipes or the like.

if or a full understanding of the invention reference is to be. had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a partly sectional elevation of a cluster according to my invention,

adapted to be secured to a conduit; Fig. 2 1s a plan of the device shownin Flg. 1, showing the lamp sockets turned through a i right angle; Fig.3 is a section on the line S-3 of Fig. 1, looking 111 the direction ofthe arrows; fig. 4 is a erspcctive view of the 'hollow supportinglOdyRVltl'l the cap and the lamp sockets removed; Fig-'5 is aperspective view illustrating my preferred means for connecting the lampsockets to the supporting body; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing aportion of the cap;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional elevation of a device similar to that shownin Fig. 1, but provided with a plug for use in connection with a socket;and Fig. 8 shows a modified form of my device.

Like characters of reference refer to like or corresponding partsthroughout the specification and drawings.

The lamp cluster consists of a hollow supporting body 10, preferably'ofspherical shape, to which are secured a plurality of lamp sockets 11,these sockets being of the. class known as angle sockets. I haveillustrated a device having two of these lamp sockets attached to thesupporting body 10, but three or more mav be used if desired, the numberbeing limited only by the relative size of the supporting body 10 andthe sockets l1.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings,the supporting body 10 is provided with circumfcrentially disposedopenings 12 through which pass the tubular portions 13 of hollow,eyelet-shaped connecting members 14 which are secured to the anglesockets 11 and serve to connect: the 35 latter to the supporting body.Each angle socket- 11 is, in the form of my device illustrated, formedwith a hollow preferably rectangular boss 15 extending from the sidethereof. The boss 15 is formed" with an aperture 16 of approximately thesaine'sizh as the aperturcs 12 of the supporting bod Through theapertures 16 and 12 exten s the tubular portion 13 of the eyelet.or coninccting member 14, which latter is, at its outer end, flanged outwardlyat 17 ot'er a washer 18, so as to confine the latter between the flangel7 and the inner face of the hollow boss .15. In assembling the parts,the

washer 18 is firmly gripped between the flange 17 and the inner. face ofthe boss 15 so that a rigid connection is effected between theconnecting n1ember,14 and the boss 15. The connectin eyelet members 14are flared outwardly wit in the supporting body 10 to form curvedflanges 19, the curvature of which corresponds with the inner curvatureof the supporting body 10. This operation of outwardly flaring the inner.ends of the connecting members M is so conducted that Patented July 4,1911.

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t i i 1 l the outer surface of the flanges 19 will slidably bear againstthe inner surface of the supporting body, while the outer surface of thehollow bosses 15 will slidably bear against the. outer surface of thesupporting body. whereby the lamp sockets 11 may be readily swivelcdlelatively to the supporting body 10. pair of inwardly extendingcxcrescences 20. the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, areformed upon the flange 19 The supporting body 10 is formed with a largeaperture 21, over which is adapted to be placed a cover 22, to hehereinafter described. The body portion it) is stamped inwardly atcertain points, located adjacent the edge of the aperture :Zlapproximately in a line with the apertures 1:2, to forut guide strips312". Lccking lingers 2'3 are so placed in the supporting body that theyhear, at the inner faces of their upper ends, against the strips '32.and, at the outer faces of their lower ends. against the inner surfacesof the flanges 19 of the eyelet members H. Screws 2- passing throughapertures 25 formed in the body portion adjacent the strips 22- andentering the locking fingers 23, are adapted totighten the. lockingtingers :23 against the flanges 19 and thus clamp the latter against.the inner surface of the supporting body 10, whereby the vlamp socketis locked in any position to which it may have been turned. By engagingagainst the locking linger 23, the excresccnces 20 prevent the turningof the lamp sockets to more than a certain predetermined cxtcnt ineither direction. so that any possibility is precluded of thelamp'socket being turned several times in the same directiolt. therebytwisting the conductors and possibly detaching one of them from thebinding terminal of the socket.

The cap 22 is of (airrcspo-nding shape to the body portion and, in theconstruction illustrated, is of partial spherical form. The cap 22 isprovided with bayonet slots 26, which will usually he equal in nmuber tothe lamp socketsemployed. 'lhc screws-24 .are made to engage,' withtheir shanks, in the bayonet slots 26 before being tightened to cinnpthe angle sockets in position so that,when the screws 24 have beentightened the cap 22 is locked in position and cannot be removed withoutloosening the screws 24. The cap 22 is suitably apertured to receive aninternally scrcw-threzuicd collar 2710' be secured to aconductor-containing conduit or the like. i

In using the lamp cluster, the cap 2.? is first firmly secured to aconduit or thmlike, the conductors being pulled through the col- 'Iar27.. The conductors are then inserted i1.-.o the supporting body 10 andpassed through the connecting eyelet members It into the interior of thelamp sockets, which latter are provided with removable caps 23. TheSockets 11 are preferably formed with spring catches ll normallyengaging the caps .23 but capable of being moved, by the pressure of afinger, out of engagement therewith. When the caps 28 are removed, thetop faces of the insulating bases within. the sockets and the bindingterminals .29 carried by these bases are exposed so that -the connectingof the comluctors is a very simple matter. When etl'ecting theseconncctions sufiicient slack wire is left to enable the socket to heturned-in either direction relatively to the hollow body. In previousclusters of this class it has been necessary to remove the sockets inorder to wire the same, since the soclus were. supported by their capswhich latter were carried upon pieces of tubing secured to the hollowbody sockets 11 are then turned to the positions which they arerequit'edto assume and the screws 24 are tightened so as to clamp the lampsockets in position relatively to the supporting body 10 and to hack thelatter in its connection with the cap 22.

In cases where it is desired to use the lamp cluster in connection withwall sockets or the like the. cap 2'12 is provided, as shown in Fig. 7,with a plug attachment 30. In this case the cap 22 is formed with a boss31, through which passes a tubular portion 39 of the plug. The portion212 is enlarged outside the cap 22 to form a shoulder 33 hetween wlnchand the boss 31 is ntserteda washer 34. The tubular part 32 is bentover'within the cap 22 to form a flange 35, between which and the inner faceof the boss 31 is inserted a washer 36. in assembling the parts, thewashers 3t and 36 are firmly compressed between the shoulder 3 and theflange .35, whereby a secure connection is made bet ween the plug andthe cover in the modification illustrated in Fi 8, the cap 92 isdispensed with, the collar .27 being directly mounted in the supportingbody 10. in this case an opening 37 is formed in the supporting body 10,such opening being preferably located diametrically opposite the collar27. the material of the supporting body 10 being bent inwardly at theedge of the opening 37 to form a' screw threaded flange 3. circularcover 39, having a screw threaded peripheral por- "tiori 40, is adaptedto screw into and close .the opening 37. In this case the screws 2i areonly required to secure the sockets againstturning, hence the slittedand stamped-in strips 22* may be dispensed with, thelocl-ting fingers 23being provided with outwardly iijent -ends 41 projecting throughsuitable holes in the supporting body.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric lamp cluster comprising a hollow supporting body; aplurality of lamp sockets; and a plurality of connecting members, onefor each lamp'sccket, said connecting members being rigidly fixed attheir outer ends to the sides of the lamp sockets and being attached attheir inncrcnds to said supporting body. a

An electric lighting device-comprising a hollow supporting body; aplurality of lamp sockets having binding terminals :Iaml a pluralityofjconnecting members. one for each lam socket, said connecting membersbeinglho low for the passage of conductors to the binding terminals" andrigidly fixed at their outer ends to the sides of the lamp 7 sockets andbeing rockably attached at their inner ends to said supporting body.

3. An electric lamp cluster comprising a hollow supporting body having aplurality of apertures therein; a plurality of lamp bodywiththeapertures ofthe bosses. registering respectivelyfwith the apertures ofsockets, ea'ch lamp socket having a easing shell formed with a. hollowboss'extend' ing at ri ht angles with the axis of the lamp and iaving anaperture formed therein; and means for securing the outer faces of saidhollow bosses directly against the outer surface of said supporting bodyin such manner that the apertures. of the bosses will respectivelyregister with the apertures of the supporting body.

4. Ari-electric lamp cluster comprising a-- hollow supporting bodyhaving a plurality. of apertures therein; a pluralityof lamp sockets,each'lamp socket being formed with a hollow boss having an apertureformed therein; and means for rockably securing the outer faces of saidhollow bosses directly against the outer surface of said supporting thesupporting body.

5. An electric lamp cluster comprising a hollow supportin body; -aplurality of lamp sockets rocliably con'nected lat their sidcs' to saidsupporting hody;2'and means for limiting the rocking movementof saidlal'nptsocketsineither directionfl; 5

i 6, An electric lamp cluster cdmprising a hollow supporting body; aplurality of lamp sockets rockably connected at their sides lto' saidsupporting body; and means for locking said lamp sockets in any desiredposition.

means for limiting the rocking movementof said lam sockets in eitherdirection; and means for ocking said lamp sockets in any desiredposition. i

8. An electric-lamp cluster comprising a hollow sup )orting body havingan aperture formed therein; a plurality of lamp sockets having each acasmg provided with an integral lateral extension swiveling connectionbetweenlsaid supporting body and each of said casing extensions a-Cadetachably connected to said supporting y for closing the a erturethereof; and means for conneetingtiic cluster to a conductor-containingsu port.

prising a hollow supporting hody'having an aperture formed therein; asocket swrvel-. ingly connected to said supporting. body; a cap forclosin said aperture, said cap being provided with means for connectingthe same with a conductor-containin support,

and means for securing said he y to said sockets havingswiveling-connection with said supporting bod a-cap for closing saidaperture, said cap in ving bayonet connec' tion with said supportingbodyand said cap being provided with means for connec- 7 tion with aconductor-containing support, Hand means for locking said cap inposition coking said sockets and simultaneously against rotation] 11. Anelectric lamp cluster comprising a hollow supporting body having an apertore therein; a plurality of lam sockets rockably connected to saidsupporting body; a cap for closing the said aperture, said cap havingbayonet slots therein; and means, goiiperating with the bayonet; slotsof the mp; for locking the cap in-positionion' the ing the lamn socketsin position.

a hollow supportin d having a pinrality of'aperturcs ormed therein; aplurality of lamp sockets; and a plurality f hollow eyelebshapedconnecting -members, one for each lam socket, each vconnecting 9. An eectric lamp-hold 1g device eoin- 12. Anhel ectriclampcluster comprisingsupporting. body and at the same time lock- 4 scopes of apertures formedtherein; a plurality of lamp sockets; a plurality of eyelet-shapedconnecting members, one for each lamp socket, each connecting memberbeing rigidly secured at one end to a lamp socket and passing through anaperture of the supporting body and being flared out Within thesupporting body so as to form a rocking connection between said lampsockets and said supporting bod and means for limiting the rockingmovementof the lamp sockets. in either direction.

14. An electric lamp clnhter comprising a hollow supporting body-"havingan aperture formed therein; a lamp socket; an eyelet-shaped connecting:member rigidly secured at one end to the-lamp socket and passing throughthe aperture of'the supporting body and being flared out to form aflange within the supporting body so as to effect a I'OCl-Ill'l"connection between the lamp socket and the supporting body; and means,engaging said flange, for locking the lamp socket in any desiredposition.

15. An electric lamp cluster comprising. a hollow supporting body havingan ape:-

ture formed therein; a lamp socket; an eyelet-shaped connecting memberrigidly secured at one end to the lamp socket and passing through theaperture of'the supporting body and being flared out to form a flangewithin the supporting body, so as to efiect a rockingiconnectiou betweenthe lamp socket and tire supporting body, said thereupon; and means,located in the path of said exoreseence, for limiting the rockingmovement of the lamp socket.

16. An electric lamp-holding device com prising a hollow supporting bodyhaving an aperture therein, a socketswivelingly conregistering with theaperture of the body and having binding terminals, and a cap normallyconcealing said binding terminals and made removable to afford access tosaid terminals.

17. In a lamp-holding device, the combination of a hollow body having anaperture, with a socket. comprisin" a casing having an aperture thereinsain casing beinglsecured to said body with its aperture in registerwith the aperture of the body, binding terminals within said casing,,and a cap normally concealing said terminals and made removable toexpose the same.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two wituesses;

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

CHARLES G. COPE, CHAS. L. HOPKINS.

flange being formed with an excresoence nccted to said body in positionto cover said aperture, said socket having an aperture

